 | The white dove, and Other Poems for Children |  |
119
The Fairies in the Lily.
Once in the early summer,
Two little fairies played
In the shadow on the streamlet,
By a water-lily made.
Two little fairies played
In the shadow on the streamlet,
By a water-lily made.
One was a little fairy,
Much smaller than the other;
And yet the largest fairy
Was the little fairy's brother.
Much smaller than the other;
And yet the largest fairy
Was the little fairy's brother.
They sported in the shadow,
They chased the rippling wave,
And let the cool fresh water
Their shining pinions lave.
They chased the rippling wave,
And let the cool fresh water
Their shining pinions lave.
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At last, when they were weary,
The largest fairy said,
“It seems to me that lily's cup
Would make a lovely bed.”
The largest fairy said,
“It seems to me that lily's cup
Would make a lovely bed.”
Out laughed the smallest fairy:
And a robin in the tree
Paused in the middle of his song,
To hear what it might be.
And a robin in the tree
Paused in the middle of his song,
To hear what it might be.
Then said the largest fairy,
“The lily is so tall,
Suppose we borrow robin's wings,
To save us from a fall?”
“The lily is so tall,
Suppose we borrow robin's wings,
To save us from a fall?”
The robin, looking downward,
Heard every word they said;
He pruned his russet feathers,
And then he shook his head.
Heard every word they said;
He pruned his russet feathers,
And then he shook his head.
Said he, “Good friends, excuse me,
My wings, myself, I need;
For, have I not a wife at home,
And little ones to feed?
My wings, myself, I need;
For, have I not a wife at home,
And little ones to feed?
121
“And yonder comes a butterfly,
Of charming size and hue,
I beg you will excuse me;”
And away the robin flew.
Of charming size and hue,
I beg you will excuse me;”
And away the robin flew.
Now said the little fairy,
“'Tis a funny sight to see,
When one don't wish to do a thing,
How busy one can be!
“'Tis a funny sight to see,
When one don't wish to do a thing,
How busy one can be!
“We do not need his pinions,
But, lily, lady fair,
Just give me leave to bend your head
A little in the air.
But, lily, lady fair,
Just give me leave to bend your head
A little in the air.
“Now lift these waxen leaves apart,
Open thy fragrant breast;
Was ever monarch on his throne
In such a glory drest!
Open thy fragrant breast;
Was ever monarch on his throne
In such a glory drest!
“Ah, this is really charming!
Come up here darling brother,
The wind shall rock us as we lie
And talk to one another.
Come up here darling brother,
The wind shall rock us as we lie
And talk to one another.
122
“Or rather, till warm noon is past,
Sleep in our folded wings;
Our lullaby shall be the song
The rippling water sings.”
Sleep in our folded wings;
Our lullaby shall be the song
The rippling water sings.”
The largest fairy lightly sprung
Up from the shining brook;
And in the lily's pearly leaves
His place beside her took;
Up from the shining brook;
And in the lily's pearly leaves
His place beside her took;
And swinging, as the stem was swayed
With motion light and slow;
The cloudless sunshine overhead,
The shaded stream below.
With motion light and slow;
The cloudless sunshine overhead,
The shaded stream below.
Soft cradled in the fragrant bloom,
Rocked by the summer air,
With folded wings they went to sleep
And slumbered sweetly there.
Rocked by the summer air,
With folded wings they went to sleep
And slumbered sweetly there.
And pleasant must their dreams have been;
At least the story tells,
That even yet, the fairies rest
In the sweet lily bells!
At least the story tells,
That even yet, the fairies rest
In the sweet lily bells!
123
Look down among their snowy leaves,
When bright with morning dew,
And if you do not find them there,
Why—I see more than you!
When bright with morning dew,
And if you do not find them there,
Why—I see more than you!
| The white dove, and Other Poems for Children | |